I Send “Don’t Forget Leprosy” Message from the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s Highest Peak (2)

Published on March 11, 2024

The following is a day-to-day report on the first five days of my ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Day 1 (February 7):

After a final checkup of our climbing gear, a nine-member expedition, including two physicians with expertise in mountain climbing, left Marangu Gate (Altitude: 1,860 meters) at 12:45 p.m.

We spent about 6 hours trekking 8 kilometers to reach Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) at 6:45 p.m. We took several brief breaks on the way as we did throughout the expedition. The average temperature stood at 23 degrees Celsius during the day and 9 degrees at night.

On the first day of our climb, we walked for 8 kilometers through forest.

Day 2 (February 8):

At 8:10 a.m., we left Mandara Hut (Altitude: 2,700 meters) and took almost 10 hours, including seven brief rest stops and a lunch break, to cover 11 kilometers. We reached Horombo Hut campsite (3,720 meters) at 5:50 p.m. The temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius during the day and 1 degree below zero at night.

We covered 11 kilometers in about 10 hours, including rest stops, passing through shrubland and gaining 1,000 meters.

Day 3 (February 9):

At 9:25 a.m., we left Horombo Hut (Altitude: 3,720 meters) and reached Zebra Rocks (4,034 meters) at 10:50 a.m. From there we retraced our steps to Horombo Hut－a process necessary to acclimatize to the higher altitude and avoid mountain sickness－arriving at 12:30 p.m..

The temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius during the day and around 1 degree at night.

We spent about two hours ascending 300 meters and then going back down again for altitude acclimation purposes.

Day 4 (February 10):

We left Horombo Hut (Altitude: 3,720 meters) at 7:40 a.m. and spent about six hours and 45 minutes covering some 10 kilometers to reach Kibo Hut (4,720 meters) at 2:25 p.m. The temperature was around 4 degrees Celsius during the day and 5 degrees below zero at night.

At Kibo Hut, an altitude of 4,720 meters. The summit of Kilimanjaro was still some distance away!

Day 5 (February 11):

We left Kibo Hut (Altitude: 4,720m) at around 8:55 a.m. and climbed to an altitude of 5,047 meters. After a brief stop, we hiked back down to Kibo Hut, arriving at 11:50 a.m. This too was to acclimatize to the thinner air at this altitude. The temperature was around 4 degrees Celsius during the day and 5 degrees below zero at night.

We spend another day acclimatizing to the altitude.

(To be continued)

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